STROEBEL. Don't talk so much. Do you understand? [To Reisacher.] Get your report book ready. HAUTEVILLE. Is this the complaint office? I demand to know at least why I was arrested. STROEBEL. Oh, here you'll find that out soon enough. [To the officer.] You can go now. [Officer exit through middle door.] HAUTEVILLE. Oh, Monsieur, what shameful treatment. I was locked up in a cell with two ordinary street walkers. You will help me, won't you? STROEBEL [who has crossed over to Reisacher]. Please don't be so familiar. HAUTEVILLE. I am so helpless. No one will listen to me. No one answers me. An awful looking woman brought me a cup of yellow broth and a rusty spoon--[indicating with her hand] so big. "Eat!" she said, and threw it down and left. You will see to it, sir, that my friends are notified, won't you? STROEBEL [glancing over Reisacher's shoulder]. Your friends cannot help you here. [To Reisacher.] Don't make the margin so wide. You are wasting good paper. [To Hauteville.] Your friends can do nothing at all for you. HAUTEVILLE. You think so, do you? One single word and I'll be set free. STROEBEL [contemptuously]. Indeed! HAUTEVILLE. Before the day is over everyone of you will have to apologize to me. Yes, before this day is over. STROEBEL. Certainly. [To Reisacher.] The word "Assessor" has two "s" in all cases. HAUTEVILLE. If you people had the least idea whom you disturbed. If you knew whom you compelled to hide in the wardrobe. STROEBEL [turning quickly to Hauteville]. In the wardrobe? So! [To Reisacher.] Make a note of that, Reisacher. [With emphasis.] So someone escaped us by hiding in the wardrobe. HAUTEVILLE. Yes, someone escaped you by hiding in the wardrobe. STROEBEL [suddenly very friendly.] Upon my word, Madame, I believe that we understand each other fully. You are a clever woman. You will not try to deny the facts. HAUTEVILLE. Not one solitary thing. I am most anxious that you should try to find out all. STROEBEL. Bravo! I came near saying that I respect you for that. [Benevolently.] You know, Hochstetter, every man is liable to make a fool of himself now and then. HAUTEVILLE. Indeed they are! I know best what fools men do make of themselves. STROEBEL. Now and then people violate the law. But they ought not to deny it afterwards. That's the sad part of it, because we always find out the truth in the end. HAUTEVILLE. I wish you had it now. STROEBEL. We have a clue. But you are a woman of character, I admit. I take off my hat to you. HAUTEVILLE. Indeed! STROEBEL. I certainly do. HAUTEVILLE. I was afraid I had lost all refinement after spending the last two nights in such company. STROEBEL [benevolently]. No doubt, it was a trifle hard. HAUTEVILLE. It was terrible. They really do make me pay for discreetness. STROEBEL. Your patrons are the very men who make it so hard for you. They get you into trouble and then expect you to protect them. Isn't it so?